By: Shane Mahon

The Yes Network is always getting better. This year we added STEM activities! 

What is STEM? 

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM is important. It connects us to the modern world. You probably noticed, the world is changing fast. In the future, people will need certain skills. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics are some big ones. 

Why include STEM activities?

STEM activities give kids important learning opportunities. For some groups, these opportunities are especially important. Some groups have been locked out of STEM careers. There is an ethnic and gender gap.  If you look at who has the STEM jobs, it’s mostly white guys. We want this to change!

So this year the Yes Network  included STEM teaching. So we hired STEM leaders. The leaders designed learning projects. They made sure each project connected to STEM ideas. Then, they made kits. The kits had everything. They had all the materials. They had instructions too. The STEM leaders made sure the kits were super fun. Here is a cool story:

A Yes Network leader was delivering kits and meals.  At one of his stops, he was greeted by a family and their young kids. One kid ran forward and asked, “Is there a toy today.” The little guy was talking about the kits.

How cool is that? Excited kids learning and playing at the same time.